Houston Hillel campus activity returns to normal programming
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Undergraduates from Rice University and the University of Houston attend Houston Hillel’s Erev Rosh Hashanah dinner.
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After more than a year of reduced programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Hillel returns this semester to a full schedule of in-person programs and events.
“It’s so exciting to see my friends in person at UH Hillel’s Student Lounge in the A.D. Bruce Religion Center,” said Avery Lucas, University of Houston Hillel student president. “Our virtual Shabbat gatherings last year were OK, but nothing compares to actually being in the same physical place as other people.
“… we built the UH sukkah on campus, something we were not able to do last year. I can’t wait for Shabbat dinners at Hillel, most of all because I miss the late-night conversations at Hillel following dinner.”
Houston Hillel moved to an all-virtual format in March 2020 and continued in that mode until recently. The only exception was Rice Hillel’s weekly outdoor campus lunches, and the distribution of Shabboxes on Friday afternoons.
“Compared to many Hillel foundations, we were able to have a limited amount of in-person activity at Rice University, because around half of Rice’s students were on campus and adhering to very stringent COVID protocols,” said Rabbi Kenny Weiss, Houston Hillel’s executive director. “Unfortunately, our University of Houston students were all learning remotely. We didn’t see any of our UH students in person for more than 18 months,”
Houston Hillel’s staff has embraced flexibility as a necessary method for staying connected with students. Houston Hillel planned its traditional Welcome Back event the day before fall classes were scheduled to resume. However, they cancelled the event when Rice University restricted student movement due to a possible increase in student COVID positivity.
“It’s always been our practice to model Houston Hillel’s emergency protocols after Rice University’s. We do this because our students see Houston Hillel as an extension of the campus community, and it avoids a lot of confusion,” said Rabbi Weiss.
Houston Hillel’s spring survey of undergraduates, graduate students and young professionals revealed a tremendous appreciation of Houston Hillel’s conservative approach to COVID safety.
Rabbi Weiss noted that, despite the switch to mostly virtual programming, participation did not change from the year before. Houston Hillel’s retention was a result of Houston Hillel staff’s emphasis on pastoral care and individual connections.
“It’s so exciting to see my friends in person at UH Hillel’s Student Lounge in the A.D. Bruce Religion Center,” said Avery Lucas, University of Houston Hillel student president. “Our virtual Shabbat gatherings last year were OK, but nothing compares to actually being in the same physical place as other people.
“… we built the UH sukkah on campus, something we were not able to do last year. I can’t wait for Shabbat dinners at Hillel, most of all because I miss the late-night conversations at Hillel following dinner.”
Houston Hillel moved to an all-virtual format in March 2020 and continued in that mode until recently. The only exception was Rice Hillel’s weekly outdoor campus lunches, and the distribution of Shabboxes on Friday afternoons.
“Compared to many Hillel foundations, we were able to have a limited amount of in-person activity at Rice University, because around half of Rice’s students were on campus and adhering to very stringent COVID protocols,” said Rabbi Kenny Weiss, Houston Hillel’s executive director. “Unfortunately, our University of Houston students were all learning remotely. We didn’t see any of our UH students in person for more than 18 months,”
Houston Hillel’s staff has embraced flexibility as a necessary method for staying connected with students. Houston Hillel planned its traditional Welcome Back event the day before fall classes were scheduled to resume. However, they cancelled the event when Rice University restricted student movement due to a possible increase in student COVID positivity.
“It’s always been our practice to model Houston Hillel’s emergency protocols after Rice University’s. We do this because our students see Houston Hillel as an extension of the campus community, and it avoids a lot of confusion,” said Rabbi Weiss.
Houston Hillel’s spring survey of undergraduates, graduate students and young professionals revealed a tremendous appreciation of Houston Hillel’s conservative approach to COVID safety.
Rabbi Weiss noted that, despite the switch to mostly virtual programming, participation did not change from the year before. Houston Hillel’s retention was a result of Houston Hillel staff’s emphasis on pastoral care and individual connections.